Hepatitis C Virus Prevalence in Pregnant Women in Gabon
Author Information
Author(s): Ndong-Atome Guy-Roger, Makuwa Maria, Njouom Richard, Branger Michel, Brun-Vézinet Francoise, Mahé Antoine, Rousset Dominique, Kazanji Mirdad
Primary Institution: Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre International de Recherches Médicales (CIRMF), Gabon
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and genetic diversity of Hepatitis C virus among pregnant women in Gabon?
Conclusion
The study found that the HCV seroprevalence in pregnant women in Gabon is 2.1%, which increases with age.
Supporting Evidence
- 20 out of 947 pregnant women tested positive for HCV.
- HCV prevalence increased with age, from 1.3% in the youngest group to 6.0% in those over 35.
- Only genotypes 4e and 4c were found among the infected women.
Takeaway
In Gabon, about 2 out of every 100 pregnant women have Hepatitis C, and older women are more likely to have it.
Methodology
Blood samples were collected from pregnant women and tested for HCV antibodies using ELISA, followed by sequencing for genotyping.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the anonymous nature of samples and reliance on self-reported age and geographic origin.
Limitations
The study may not represent the entire population of Gabon as it focused only on pregnant women in five cities.
Participant Demographics
Pregnant women from five main cities in Gabon.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004
Confidence Interval
95% CI reported for various age groups
Statistical Significance
p = 0.004
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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